GWSR Cotswold Festival of Steam | 24th-26th of May 2025

thanks, looking forward to the event, there Saturday and Monday

 

Shuttle bus times now online

 

Are these actually designed to connect with trains? Useless from the south Reading or Bristol

 

Yeah the connections don't seem too great admittedly, though I guess the railway can't have too greater control over them compared to other lines.

On the Saturday I can get a train into Cheltenham Spa at 9:38, 18 minutes after a bus leaves for the railway and the next isn't until 10:25 and another train arrives from the London end 6 minutes after that last morning bus leaves.

On the Sunday one of the buses gets back to Cheltenham Spa at 17:55, only 5 minutes before a train departs back towards London or it's an hour wait for the next one (although that would only be a 25 minute wait if if you get the last bus back), so trying to pick which train home is proving a bit tricky.

 

That probably means we won’t go

 

Does anyone know who will be operating the buses?

My planned arrival is 0938 but that has two 8 minutes connections. The alternative is 1031.

Stagecoach operate Service D from the station to The Racecourse P&R every 20 minutes . Looks like about about 20 minutes walk from there.

 

But see my next post

 

Getting closer to the event, planning in progress. Anyone help please, will the signal box platform at Broadway be accessible for photography? Thanks.

 

Not this time I'm afraid, hopefully soon the building will be finished and it can be permanently opened! You can go up the footbridge but no access to P2.

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20 mins for the slow walker, 10 for a decent walker, head through the racecourse entrance, left towards the car parking you can see the station from the rise, there is often a bike race or running event going on down by the parade ring area.

 

9 days to and things are looking to be mighty busy next week! 76077 has arrived for display whilst all others are due next week. The first traction engines should arrive this weekend and throughout the week as well. Including the narrow gauge it should be up to 12 in steam.
Don’t forget the trade stands in the Toddington marquee and the steam shed. (See 2874, 7820 and 76077) whilst at Winchcombe there is a special railway 200 display of 200 ‘O’ gauge models.
Also at Winchcombe there will be a 1940’ US army reenactment group who have researched the local railway history connected with ww2.
At Cheltenham there will be the chance to drive 6880 on all three mornings with driver for £20 whilst on Saturday pm 35006 will be available (All subject to loco availability and operational requirements-age restrictions apply).
This is only a brief overview, there’s so much more! Advance ticket prices still apply so what’s stopping you! Photo credit m.palmer

 

Will parking at Toddington be in the field? I remember a previous year it was just in the car park and it filled up quickly, just working out what time we need to arrive by to get parked for the day. Thanks in advance.

 

We parked in the field last year, some prat had parked on the roadside just by the field entrance on the way to leave which meant zero visibility eastwards when we were trying to get out!

 

I can confirm that Toddington parking is in the field (entrance is the stow side of the station). There is no parking in the station car park this year. We strongly suggest unless you get to the railway reasonably early, that people park at Cheltenham race course for peace of mind.

 

I'll be passing through the area on Saturday but won't have enough time to travel on the trains. Is it possible to visit Toddington without a travel ticket? Is a site ticket (no travel) available?

 

Video of Andrew No.15 Earl David in steam at The Flour Mill has just been posted on FaceBook, cue sigh of relief from gala committee! Link for those that do facebook www.facebook.com/watch?v=1085352803404701 if you don't, you'll just have to come and see it next weekend! First passenger move is 9am off Winchcombe, spending the morning on Winchcombe-Toddington shuttles.

Couple of other things worth noting, this will be P&O's last Cotswold Festival of Steam before withdrawal some time later this year, so if you've not yet had the chance or want to see it in operation one last time, this is an excellent weekend to pick.

I'll be guard on the goods train on Saturday so do say hello if you're coming for a brake van ride. Winchcombe shunter for at least part of Sunday and guard on set 4 Monday, it's going to be a very busy weekend for all of us but hopefully worth the effort!

You can help lower our stress levels and save yourself a few quid by buying your ticket online in advance at www.gwsr.com/galas/steam-gala , we really would appreciate it, if you want to see these sorts of events continue in the future, you have to support them!

 

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Have done, we bought tickets online for the Saturday. It looks very good indeed. Will be travelling from Broadway rather than our usual Toddington.

 

Is there any indication on which way the industrials will face at all? Understand it might not be known until they rock up, just wondering if there's a planned direction for each of them? Thanks.